Lead Belly: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1988

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/lead-belly/bio/

Official Site:

http://www.leadbelly.org/

By 1903, 18-year-old Lead Belly worked the Shreveport red-light district.

The Titanic (1912):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYSvFW-WN8M

He was incarcerated several times throughout his life.

Some of his best known work:

Cotton Fields:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46h56pidCiE

Rock Island Line:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCiJ4QQG9WQ

The Midnight Special:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqgysixP_48

Goodnight Irene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmQXmqbZ3Pc

He died in poverty from Lou Gehrig’s Disease in 1949.
Shortly after his death, the Weavers recorded “Goodnight Irene” selling two million copies. It is one of the best examples of white artists scoring big hits and making money off of songs written by black artists.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj3s8qq3kU4